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Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Russia sends Aussie to jail for fighting alongside Ukrainian forces
Russia has sentenced an Australian citizen to 13 years in a maximum-security prison for fighting alongside Ukrainian forces. Oscar Jenkins, 33, was found guilty by a court for taking part in an armed conflict as a mercenary, a statement from prosecutors said on Friday. The court had ruled he had taken part in combat operations against Russian troops between March and December 2024. Australian media reported in 2024 that Jenkins, a teacher from Melbourne, was serving alongside Ukraine's military when he was captured by Russian forces in December. In January, Australia summoned the Russian ambassador over what turned out to be false reports that Jenkins had been killed after being captured by Russia before he was confirmed alive in Russian captivity a fortnight later. That footage showed Mr Jenkins dressed in a heavy coat, beanie and army gear, answering questions - believed to be from a Russian captor. He was asked to confirm his identity and the date in English, claiming it was January 17, 2025. 'Tell us about your health condition, about your mood. Are you okay?' the man filming asked. 'I would like more freedom,' Jenkins replied. 'I feel a bit weak. I've lost a lot of weight. I have a broken arm still, I think, and my hand is not good.' The man behind the camera said Mr Jenkins was a prisoner of war from the 66th Mechanised Brigade of the armed forces of Ukraine. 'You are alive, so the information about your death is not right?' the cameraman asked. 'Correct,' Mr Jenkins answered. In February, footage emerged that appeared to show Russian soldiers performing medical tests on Mr Jenkins' emaciated body and joking that he was 'not dead'. The Russian joked that Mr Jenkins' blood pressure would be 'zero' if he was dead, according to a translation by the ABC. He was then instructed to remove his beanie. 'Everything is okay. He is alive and I think he will [be] better,' the cameraman said. News of his prisoner status first made headlines in December after footage emerged of the Australian being paraded in front of a Russian soldier. Mr Jenkins at the time told the camera he'd been fighting with Ukrainian forces in the Donbas region. Russian authorities confirmed Mr Jenkins would be trialled for his alleged role with Ukrainian forces in April. 'The Prosecutor's Office of the Lugansk People's Republic approved the indictment in the criminal case against 33-year-old citizen of the Commonwealth of Australia Oscar Charles Augustus Jenkins,' Russian authorities said. Mr Jenkins was accused of entering Ukraine in February 2024 and engaging in combat against Russian forces from March to December, during which he allegedly received monthly payments ranging from $11,000 to $15,000, according to the indictment cited by local media. Once the indictment was signed off, the case was escalated to the Supreme Court of the Lugansk People's Republic. 'A citizen of Australia, on his own initiative, in order to receive material remuneration, arrived on the territory of Ukraine to participate as a mercenary in an armed conflict with the Russian Federation on the side of enemy troops,' local Russian authorities alleged. Ukrainian ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko has previously said his government added Jenkins to its list of prisoners of war and would negotiate for his release in an exchange. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said Australia has made representations to Ukraine, including a one-on-one discussion he had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. In March, British citizen James Scott Rhys Anderson was sentenced to 19 years in prison by a Russian court for fighting for Ukraine, after being captured in November in the Kursk region. He was convicted on charges of terrorism and 'mercenary activities'. Unlike prisoners of war, who are protected under the Geneva Convention, foreigners fighting for Ukraine are labeled 'mercenaries' by Moscow and can be prosecuted under Russian law.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Yahoo
‘Weak': Bombshell video of Aussie POW
An unverified video has surfaced on social media purportedly showing Australian prisoner of war (POW) Oscar Jenkins alive in Russian custody two months after he was captured in eastern Ukraine. The video shows Mr Jenkins being interviewed in a much softer manner than the infamous post-skirmish interrogation footage that shocked Australians late last year. 'My name is Oscar Jenkins, I am Australian,' Mr Jenkins says in the video. A new video has surfaced purportedly showing Australian POW Oscar Jenkins alive in Russian custody two months after his capture in eastern Ukraine. A man off screen – seemingly one of his captors – identified Mr Jenkins as a POW from Ukraine's 66th Mechanised Brigade. NewsWire understands he was fighting as part of the brigade's 402nd Rifle Battalion when he was captured near Makiivka, a tiny village on the Zherebets River in Luhansk Oblast. 'Tell us about your health condition, about your mood. Are you OK?' the man asks Mr Jenkins. 'I would like more freedom,' Mr Jenkins replies. 'I feel a bit weak, I've lost a lot of weight, I have a broken arm still, I think, and my hand is not good.' 'But you are alive,' the man interjects. 'So the information about your death is not right?' 'Correct,' Mr Jenkins says. The man says the video was taken on January 17. NewsWire has not been able to independently verify where or when the video was taken. Reverse image searches have shown the video was uploaded as early as February 8. More to come
The Guardian
17-02-2025
- The Guardian
News live: Australian captured by Russia says he feels weak and has a broken arm in unverified YouTube video
Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature An unverified video appears to show Australian man Oscar Jenkins alive in Russian captivity, after he was feared dead at one point. In the video, uploaded to YouTube, a man behind the camera says it is 17 January 2025, before Jenkins identifies himself: My name is Oscar Jenkins … I am 32 years old … I come from Australia. The man behind the camera says Jenkins is a prisoner of war from the 66th Mechanised Brigade of the armed forces of Ukraine. Jenkins said he feels weak and has lost a lot of weight, and also has a broken arm. The man behind the camera puts to him, 'The information about your death is not right?' to which Jenkins replies, 'correct'. The man behind the camera then asks Jenkins to remove his beanie and says: Everything is OK, he is alive, and I think he will [be] better. Guardian Australia has not independently verified the video. You can view it in full below, but please be warned: it may be distressing to watch. Share Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Bushfire danger period lifted early for nine NSW LGAs amid recent rainfall Due to easing conditions and recent rainfall in north-eastern NSW, the Rural Fire Service has declared an early end to the bushfire danger period for nine LGAs: Ballina Bellingen Byron Clarence Valley Coffs Harbour Kyogle Lismore Richmond Valley Tweed Fire permits are still required in all other areas, the RFS said. Share One dead in house fire in Sydney's west A person has died in a house fire in Sydney's west this morning. Emergency services responded to the blaze at Guildford just before 5am, which caused extensive damage to a home, NSW police said. Five occupants escaped, however a man – yet to be formally identified – was found inside. He was treated by paramedics but died at the scene. Officers have established a crime scene and an investigation is under way into the circumstances surrounding the fire. A report will also be prepared for the coroner. Share NSW transport minister 'not suggesting we are close' to ending rail dispute The NSW transport minister, John Graham, also spoke on ABC News Breakfast this morning to provide an update on the state's rail network and negotiations with the unions. He said services were running 'close to time' this morning, 'despite having more than 100 staff who haven't shown up to work'. Many of those families or businesses who are hoping for a cut from the RBA, when it comes to interest rates later this afternoon, will be hoping for an end to this rail dispute also. It has put huge pressure on families and businesses right at the moment. Asked how long the dispute with the unions may continued – for days, weeks? – Graham pointed to the Fair Work Commission hearing about the action tomorrow morning. We are hoping for an end to this industrial action, a chance to have a cooling-off period, negotiate an end to this industrial action and a fair pay deal for those rail workers. But he went on to say, 'I am not suggesting we are close'. I don't want to make predictions given the twists and turns in this tale, but [we] will put a strong case in the morning. Share Hanson-Young: 'definitely time' for interest rate cut Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young spoke on ABC News Breakfast just earlier, ahead of today's interest rate decision by the RBA. She said it was 'definitely time for a cut' and that families across the country were hoping for this. We need the RBA to heed the concerns of Australians and economists – inflation is down, people are hurting, businesses are struggling. It is time to cut. Hanson-Young added that Australians needed more than a cut, which would be 'very small'. Anything at this point is helpful, but we need more cost-of-living relief for families. We need more from the federal government and Peter Dutton as we go into this election. The opposition has put nothing on the table for cost-of-living relief for families. Some for the bosses, so they can go and have lunch, but very little for helping families pay for the lunches of kids as they get ready for school in the morning. Share The prime minister was also asked to weigh in on the ongoing dispute between the NSW government and rail unions – and whether the federal government plans to intervene. But Anthony Albanese shot this suggestion down, saying this was 'a state dispute of a state branch of a union over pay with a state government'. I support very much the efforts of the Minns government to bring this dispute to an end, common sense has to apply here, and I think that the union needs to acknowledge that it is alienating people through these actions of not turning up to work. And there was hope on the weekend that it would be settled, [and] it should have been … We're getting to the point where the union needs to see common sense, settle this dispute with the Minns government. [The NSW premier] Chris Minns is working very hard to get an end to this dispute. Commuters on a packed Parramatta station platform after more rail union industrial action last Friday. Photograph: Mark Evans/AAP Share Albanese asked if Labor is running 'Mediscare' campaign Anthony Albanese was asked whether Labor's message about cost-of-living relief was actually getting through to voters, after the latest polling numbers released yesterday. He responded: We know that all of those cost-of-living measures, including the tax cuts, were opposed by Peter [Dutton], every single one of them, and if he had have had his way, Australians would be – on average – $7,200 worse off. And we know that he's planning further cuts. He won't tell people what they are, but he's saying there'll be cuts. And last time around, that meant a GP tax. The prime minister was asked about an ad the Labor party ran regarding Dutton's stance on Medicare, and whether Labor is running a 'Mediscare' campaign. Albanese again pointed to the attempted GP tax, and continued: It is accurate to say that Peter Dutton tried to abolish bulk billing by introducing a GP tax every time people went to the doctors … On the weekend, he did an interview again where he repeated … the statement that you don't value it if it's free. Share Anthony Albanese has been asked about the video of Oscar Jenkins – which has not been independently verified by Guardian Australia – and has said the Australian government continues to hold 'serious concerns' for his welfare. I have seen the video, but we still hold serious concerns for Mr Jenkins' welfare. We've made it clear to Russia that Mr Jenkins is a prisoner of war and that there are obligations that kick in, in accordance with international humanitarian law, and they must be observed. We've also, of course, made representations to Ukraine, including a one-on-one discussion that I had with president [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy raising Mr Jenkins' welfare. We have called for Russia to release Mr Jenkins so that he can come home to his family. Share PM defends economic record ahead of RBA interest rate decision The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has been speaking on ABC Sydney radio ahead of today's interest rate decision from the Reserve Bank. He said the RBA would 'make a decision based upon the economics, not based upon any politics', and defended his government's economic record: This has been a global inflation spike and overseas, of course, [it] hit double digits in some places. Our neighbours in New Zealand [are] in a deep recession at the moment now. We've managed to avoid that. The economy has continued to grow. We've created more jobs than any government since federation, and importantly, I think something I'm really proud of is that we have the lowest average unemployment rate of any government in the last 50 years. Anthony Albanese: 'The economy has continued to grow.' Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP Share Australian and Chinese officials meet after midair incident Australian military officials have reportedly raised concerns with their Chinese counterparts about a midair incident over the South China Sea during senior official talks in Beijing, AAP reports. On Monday, senior officials from both countries met in Beijing for the Australia-China Defence Strategic Dialogue – the first since 2019. The Australian defence department's statement after the talks hinted at the midair incident being discussed: Australia reiterated the importance of all countries in the region operating in a safe and professional manner at all times to avoid the risk of miscalculation or escalation. Both countries exchanged views on bilateral, global and regional security issues, as well as military transparency and communication. Australia affirmed the importance of 'all countries acting in a manner that respects sovereignty and upholds peace, security and stability'. Meanwhile China's defence ministry said in a statement that the two countries had an 'in-depth' exchange of views on bilateral and military relations, regional security and other issues of common concern. Both sides agreed to continue to strengthen strategic communication in defence, properly handle conflicts and differences, and carry out exchanges and cooperation, the statement said. Share Cait Kelly Burke declines to weigh in on Creative Australia decision Continuing from our last post: Tony Burke was also asked about the turmoil on the board of Creative Australia after it dumped artist Khaled Sabsabi as the country's representative to the 2026 Venice Biennale. Burke would not weigh in on whether CA should reinstate Sabsabi: They made a decision as to not [be] going ahead with that now. I think the worst thing could happen now would be for politicians to be adjudicating on it. It should be made at arm's length from politicians, that's so important. Burke said he had spoken to the CA chief executive, Adrian Collette, after the artist's work came up in Senate discussion. At that point, he had already determined that they were going to have a board meeting that night. I was very clear. I made clear to Adrian Collette, who I have known for more than a decade. I said to him whatever you decide, I will support you and I will support Creative Australia. Home affairs and creative arts minister Tony Burke. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP Share Cait Kelly Burke questioned on Nauru agreeing to take three violent offenders among NZYQ cohort Appearing on ABC's 7.30 program last night, the home affairs and creative arts minister, Tony Burke, was asked about Nauru agreeing to take three violent offenders who were among the so-called 'NZYQ' cohort. He said Nauru had approached the government, but would not say how much Australia had paid the small country in order to offload the refugees. As you know, you know I'm not going to answer that one. I will explain just something on cost. The costs of an arrangement like this don't get disclosed. That's been the case for decades. It's part of the arrangement with Nauru that is entered into, is that these issues also be kept confidential. When asked how he would feel if they reoffended on Nauru, Burke said: Sometimes we're talking about individuals who have only lived in the community for a very, very short time … and sometimes you get people who the first time they were in the community was the same time they were committing a crime. The concept that Australia owes a particular obligation to these individuals, I really think is a stretch. Share An unverified video appears to show Australian man Oscar Jenkins alive in Russian captivity, after he was feared dead at one point. In the video, uploaded to YouTube, a man behind the camera says it is 17 January 2025, before Jenkins identifies himself: My name is Oscar Jenkins … I am 32 years old … I come from Australia. The man behind the camera says Jenkins is a prisoner of war from the 66th Mechanised Brigade of the armed forces of Ukraine. Jenkins said he feels weak and has lost a lot of weight, and also has a broken arm. The man behind the camera puts to him, 'The information about your death is not right?' to which Jenkins replies, 'correct'. The man behind the camera then asks Jenkins to remove his beanie and says: Everything is OK, he is alive, and I think he will [be] better. Guardian Australia has not independently verified the video. You can view it in full below, but please be warned: it may be distressing to watch. Share People making racist remarks publicly could spend up to two years in jail and cop a fine of more than $10,000 under tough new laws in NSW, AAP reports. Amid escalating antisemitic graffiti and vandalism incidents in Sydney, the Minns government is introducing a racial hatred incitement offence amendment to the Crimes Act in parliament today. The state's attorney general, Michael Daley, said: Racial hatred is unacceptable – and under this new legislation, it will be a crime to publicly and intentionally incite racial hatred. It is important for members of our community to be protected from conduct that causes them to fear for their safety, or to fear harassment, intimidation or violence. The legislation will make it a crime to intentionally and publicly incite hatred towards another person, or group of people, on the grounds of race. The amendment will establish a new section, 93ZAA of the Crimes Act, with a maximum penalty for an individual of two years behind bars, fines of up to $11,000, or both, while corporations can face fines of $55,000. The proposed offence stipulates that it must be a public act and that it intentionally incites hatred based on race. The government maintains freedom of political speech will be protected and makes an exception 'for directly referencing religious texts during religious teachings'. Share Emily Wind Good morning, and welcome back to the Australia news live blog. I'm Emily Wind and I'll be taking you through our rolling coverage for most of today. The New South Wales government will today introduce a racial hatred incitement offence amendment to the Crimes Act, in response to a number of antisemitic attacks in the state. As AAP reports, people making racist remarks publicly could spend up to two years in jail and cop a fine of more than $10,000 under the tough new laws. The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to cut the official cash rate today, raising hopes among mortgage holders that the era of high interest repayments will finally start to unwind. The official announcement is due at 2.30pm AEDT – so stay tuned. Also, an unverified video online appears to show Australian man Oscar Jenkins, who was captured in Russia and at one point feared dead. We'll have more on this shortly. As always, you can reach out with any tips, questions or feedback via email: Let's get started. Share
